Electric switch.



E. M. HEWLETT.

ELEGTRIG SWITCH.

urucnxon FILED SEPT. 15, 1909.

June 11, 1912.

Patented 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 mva: NTE! R:

Emu/ma PI. HEVVLETT E. M. HEWLETT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED $21 115, 1909.

1,029,366, iat-entefi 11, 1912.

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q\\\ -;-\w- WETNEE EJEZTI \NVENTEIRI EDWARD F1. HEWLETT AT TY.

riisiilsir: smi es ELECTREC GOMLFAl NEfiTADY, ll'EW' YORK, ASSIGNGB T8GENERAL 1, A CGRPOEATIDN 033 NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SYi ITGIi in (If-Z u 720m it may; concern:

it known that l Eowiuio M, HEWLETT, citizen of the Unitel Statesresitiui at ticheucctznly, county of Sciienecl'lurly )lllti? of cw rorlihave invented certain new uncl useful improvements in Electric Switches,of whicu the following is {L specili cs t-ion grounded; in which the ocrating meehunis-n: of ilie switch is unitary structure which may beeasily and quickly removed and glucml without disturbing the connectionsor oi parts of the e itch and in i i the oinrleu uion oi inois ire onthe 27101 or the turn; is greatly lun- (lcrcc and in most cu prevented.

In carving out my invention operating contacts of the switch steel bymeans of the coare opera fluid .prexure motor which. is thoroup'insulated from ground and to which pre or is cleliverefl through columnof insulating fluid such oil 7 coin/allied in an insulating tube orholder and of "h to msulzite e motor mec i i l 0 pressure on. the luztluiuv be varied operuiiizg the liuill thereh operating the a preferredconstruction a thoroughly stem of metallic piping lo one e liunl ululill. pressed uni the pressure ol the coin- 1 nutteil througg'l' n refluid is trans- 1 the insulating fluid to the fluid pressure motor.

in the I'H'Glti'lib. construction the insulating fluid is COAL lined inu tubular insulator which support? the motor mechanism and alsoiiisulules it from ground the compressecl air "le pressure fluid othersol coi'upressecl air or other iiluicl tilt column of insulating.

Specification o1" Latter Serial No. 517.618.

in" m n utor through any suitable system of reel construction all theoper 1e sw'tcii are submerged in l the trail, which is pro idecl wuiclithe various parts ofthe switei :i: suspended and in order to enable theoperating mechanism of the l and inspected without swiich to he reiiio"one of the switch or i the operating mesh-- "no member or fist-e 1; iiithe top the lie entire out withr removing th I is which conother 35! hogfluid for transmitting p essure to the fluid pressure mechanism sus eide-cl from the removable cap niemoeifor base plate and the fluidpressure motor is mounted. on the lower ends of the tubular insulators,the entire mechanism being so proportioned that ii; can al be liftedthrough the opening" in the over the tank.

W here switches proyicled with metallic oil tanks are exposed to changesof temperature, it has been found that water collects on the interior ofthe tanlr eh rethe surface of the oil and eventually drops from thecover into the oil, thereby clecreusing the in- "'19; value of the oil,iiicl in order to tain the oil or preventing-deterioration of the oildue to the presence of water.

My invention will best be understood in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, which show merely for purposes of illustration one of thevarious forms in which the invention may be embodied and- "to stand onthe floor of the station and to contain and support all the parts of theoil .switch, the tank being preferably, though not necessarily, providedwith an insulating lining 2. The tank is filled with oil to the level ofthe line 3 and has a cover 4 which, in the specific form of switch shownin the drawings, is provided with two openings 5 having upturned flangeswhich fit inside of cover plates 6 whichin turn carry insulators 7 withtheir lower ends projecting into the oil tank and provided withterminals 8 by means of which connection may be made with the circuitcontrolled by the switch.

The cover 41 therefore acts not only as a closure for the tank but alsoas a horizontal support for the insulators 7. Each insulator 7 carriesat the bottom,beneath the surface of the oil in the tank 1, a stationaryor fixed contact 9 in electrical connection with the terminal 8 at thetop of the insulator, the circuit being closed between the two fixedcontacts 9 by means-of a bridging contact 10 which, in the specific formof switch shown in the drawings, is composed of two pivoted bladeselectrically and mechanically connected by means of links 11 andpivotally ,mounted on arms or supports 12 ,which in turn' are secured tothe plate 13 supported on andinsi' ated from the cover 4: of the switch.When the bridging contact 10-is 'in the position shown in Fig. 1, thecircuit between the fixed contacts 9 is closed. The bridging contact 10may be operated by means of any suitable fluid pressure motor which ispreferably mounted on the plate 13 and is therefore insulated from thecover 4 of the tank and from ground. In the preferred construction asshown inthe drawing the fluid pressure motor comprises a casing orcylinder 14 mounted on the plate 13 and provided with a movable memberor piston 15 which is connected through the rod 16 to the links 11 andthereby actuates the bridging contact 10. In the preferredconss'ruetion, as shown in Fig. 1, the plate 13 is meihanicallysupported on and electr caily insulated from the cover 4b means of twotubular insulators 18 and 19', each of -,v'nich is partially filled withinsulating fluid 20, preferably some liquid such as oil, which has ahigh insulating-value.

One end of the casing or cylinder 14 is connected to the interior of theinsulator 18 through the pipe 21, while the interior of the otherinsulator 19 is connected to the other end of the cylinder 14 throughthe pipe 22, so that the piston or movable member 15 forms a movablepartition between the insulating fluid in the two tubular insulators.Each insulator is firmly closed at the lower end by means of a clamp 23which holds it in oil tight relation to the plate 13 and each insulatoris secured at its upper end by means of a similaiuclamp 24 to supportingplates 25, each of which fits over the flange 26 of a flanged opening inthe cap member or cover plate 27, which in turn bridges and preferablycloses the compara 'tively large opening 28 in the cover 4, the

outer edge of the cap member or cover plate 27 fitting over the rim orflange of the open ing 28, as shown in Fig. 1. As a result of -thisconstruction, each tubular insulator18 and 19 has a cover or cap at thetop and at the bottom and in addition the twov insulators as well as theoperating mechanism secured to the plate 13 and the bridging contact 10are carried upon the cap member or cover plate 27 which in turn iscarried by the cover 4.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the plate 13 is smaller than the cover plate27 and will easily pass through the opening 28, whilev the bridgingcontact 10 is so pivoted on the plate 13 that when the piston 15 is atthe upper end of its strokeand the two blades which form the bridgingcontact are substantially vertical, asshown in dotted lines. in Fig. 1,the entire operating mechanism consisting of the tubular insulators 18and 19 and all the parts supported by them can be lifted out. throughthe opening 28 without in any way disturbing the fixed contacts 9 or theconnections of the leads of the ter-' minals 8.

In order. to actuate the bridging contact, pressure is transmitted tothe movable member or piston 15 of the motor mechanism through theinsulating fluid 20 contained in the two tubular insulators. Since inthe particular form of switch shown in the drawings the insulators arevertical and the operating mechanism and movable contact are mounted onthe lower end of the insulators, the pressure for operating the switchis applied to the upper end of the insulating fluid contained in eachinsulator. This pressure may be applied in any desired way, butpreferably bymeans of a pressure fluid" of a less density than theinsulating fluid 20. Wherethe parts are arranged as shown inFig. 1 andthe density of the pressure fluid is less than'the density of theinsulating fluid 20 there is no tendency for the pressure fluidto'settle down through air under pressur insane" fluid is compressed airwhich is delivered to i the interior of they insulators l8 and 19through pipes 29 and 30, passing through the supporting plates 25opening into the interior of the tubular insulators. iilince these pipesare sepa ated from the bridging cont-act and the op niechan sininsulators i8 and and 7} fluid 20 the .y be groun causing a ground onthe circuit switch is connected and therefore the pipes may be made ofiron and connected in suitable my to the controlling valve 31, which ismounted in any suitable position, as shown in Fig. 2, and supplied withcompressed air or other suitable pressure liuid through a supply pipe32, which forms the outlet of the tanlt of sutiicient size to operatethe switch several times, even though no more air is supplied to it. Apipe having a check Valve 34- therein supplies the tank 83 from thereservoir 35 which in turn supplied with air at any desired pressu fromthe compressor 36 driven by any su able motor 3?.

Ithes been found in practice that with an iron oil tank provided with aniron cover. moisture "will condense on the cover as l temperature of theair surrounding team changes and drops of water will form whicheventually fall into the oil and impair its insulating value. In orderto greatly hinder this action and in most cases prevent it they, I linethe metallic surfaces of the tank above the surface of the oil, withsome lining which will greatly hinder the con densetion of moisture. lthas been found that most of the eondenseti takes place around the edgesoi" the cover and in nocordance with invention, 1 line the cover, nearthe edge, with a thing 38 of asbestos or some similar non-metallicfibrous material for the purpose of preventing the condensution iifmoisture and the 1 nting deteriorutiowof oil due to the ,sence of water.

The operation of the s itch shown 1'' drawings is as follows: lVith thein the position shown in Fig. 1, the switch is closed and if t isdesired to open the snitch, c is admitted through the pipe 29 by meansthe control relve 31 While at the same time the pipe 30 is opened to theatmosphere. Compressed air entering throughpipe 2f) exerts a pressure onthe upper surface of the insulating fluid or oil i l 1 l l l l l l l 1 ll l l l l l I l 5 l l l l suit is opened. ffhen it is desired to closethe circuit, the control valve 81 moved into e position where thepipefi) is opened to the atmosphere and compressed uir is admittedthrough the pipe 36 to the interior oft-he insulator 19 above theinsulating iiuid or oil. The pressure upon the oil the piston 15downward into the po 'on shown in Fig. 1, thereby swingii'ig the hridg'ing contacts up into the .full iine position engagement wi h thestetionorycontscts case it red, "for any reason, to

examine the operating mechanism and the the cap member or COYQ]? 2?loosened (3 then the hose gcther with the insulators all tie portssupported by them may he lifted up through the opening 28 without in anyWay disturbing or affecting the irisulutors T or the connections ofthe-terminals 8 to the leads of the circuit, and thereby inspection andrepair of the switch is greatly facilitated.

My invention may be embodied i other torn an that described and tore dono limit my invention to the pret'ie arrangement herein disclosed, butaim i the appended claims to cover all modifice- "ens ithin the spiritand scope of my in x'ention.

ll'hzn' l claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is,-

1.. An electric switch comprising a inorohlc (1)Zlil0l', a fluidpressure motor mechanism connected to said contact to actuate it. aninsulating conduit connected to said motor mechanism and containing aninsulating fluid, a pressure conduit connected to said insulatingconduit and containing a pressure fluid of a density different from thatof said insulating iluitl, and means for at will the pressure of thepressure it Sillll pressure conduit. 1

An electric switch :VHIPIiSlYlQ u move'ole contact and a tlun'l pressuremotor mechanism connected to Hold Contact, :2. pipe containing pressurefluid, means it tur -Jim; at will the pressure of said fluid in saidpipe, and an insulating conduit coir lltlfitil to said pipe and to saidmotor meehd nism and containing instituting fluid of :1 densitydifferent from the density of said pressure fluid, said insulatingconduitbeing mounted in :1 position to cause said lllSll'lnr ing fluidto separate said motor mechanism and said pressure fluid.

3. An electric switch compo 1g 2 moveble coutaot. u iiuidlpressure motorinet ni in for actuating said Contact, rhesus i'u -qing pressure fluidto actuate said truism, and an insulating conduittor meet emanated tomotor mechenisn end to said means and containing insulating fluid whichforms an insulating movable partition between the pressure fluid andsaid motor mechanism.

at. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a fluid pressuremotor mechanism connected to said contact to actuate it, a pipe forsupplying pressure fluid to actuate said motor mechanism, means forvarying at will the pressure of the pressure fluid in said pipe, and aninsulating conduit between said pipe and said motor'mechanism containinginsulating fluid of a different density than the pressure fluid andmounted in a position to cause the insulating fluid to remain in saidinsulating conduit.

3.- An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a hollow insulatorcontaining insulating fluid, a support for said insulator, a fluidpressure motor mechanism for actuating said movable contact, saidmechanism being mounted on said insulator and in communication with theinterior of said insulator near one end thereof, and means connectcd tothe interior of said insulator near the other end for varying at willthe pres sure of said insulating fluid and thereby op erating said motormechanism.

(3. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, av tubularinsulator containing insulating fluid, a motor mechanism mounted nearone end of said insulator in communication with the interior thereof andconnected to said contact, a conduit opening into the interior of saidinsulator near the other end, and means for supplying elastic fluidunder pressure to the interior of said insulator through said conduit.

7. An electric switch comprisinga movable contact, a tubular insulatorcontaining an insulating fluid, a fluid pressure motor mechanism mountedon said insulator in communication with theinterior thereof andconnected to said contact, a metallic pipe connected to the interior ofsaid insulator, a control valve in said pipe, and means for supplyingcompressed air to said pipe.

8. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a tubular insulatorprovided with a cap at each end and containing insulating fluid, a fluidpressure motor mechanism connected to said contact and mounted on onecup in communication with the interior of said insulator, a pipe incommuni cation with the interior of said insulator through the othercap, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said pipe to varythe pressure on said insulating fluid and thereby actuate said motormechanism.

9. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a fluid pressuremotor mechanism connected to said contact to actuate it, an insulatingconduit containing insulating fluid and connected to said motor mecha-'nism with one end above said mechanism,

and means connected to the upperend of said conduit for introducing intoSaid conduit under pressure a fluid of less density than said insulatingfluid and thereby actutluid,a fluid pressure motor mec anism connectedto said contact and mounted on the lower end of said insulator incommunication with the interior thereof, and means connected to theupper end of said insulator for introducing into said insulator underpressure a fluid of less density than said insulating fluid.

11. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a rigid tubularinsulator vertically mounted and containing oil, a fluid pressure motormechanism connected to said contact and mounted on the. lower end ofsaid insulator in communication With the interior thereof, and means forsupplying air under pressure to .the interior of said insulator attheupper end thereof and thereby actuating said motor mechanism by pressuretransmitted through the oil.

12. An electric switch comprising a horizontal support, a fixed contactmounted beneath and insulated from said support, a rigid tubularinsulator connected atits upper end to said support and containinginsulating liquid, a movable contact mounted on said insulator tocooperate with said fixed contact, a fluid pressure motor mechanismconnected to said movable contact and mounted on the lower end of saidinsulator in communication with the interior thereoff and means forsupplying air under pressureto the interior of said insulator at theupper end thereof, whereby the pressure on said insulating liquid isvaried and said motor mechanism is operated.

13. An electric switch comprising a mov able contact, a fluid pressuremotor mechanism having a movable member connected to said movablecontact, two insulating conduits connected to said mechanism onopposite; sides of said member and containing insulating fluid incontact with said member, means for supplying to said conduits pressurefluid which differs in density from the insulating fluid and therebymaintains the insulating fluidinsaid conduits, and means for varying thepressure of the pressure fluid in said conduits to actuate said member.

H. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a fluid pressuremotor mechanism having a movable member connected to said movablecontact, two vertically disposed insulating conduits connected to saidmechanism on opposite sides of said membar and containing insulatingliquid in 0011- rescues mechanism connected to one of said contacts andmounted on said tubular insulator in communication with the interiorthereof, and means for varying at will the pressure of the insulatingfluid in said tubular insulator to operate said motor mechanism.

16. In an electric switch, the combination of a support, two insulatorsmounted on said support to project therefrom parallel o each, one ofsaid insulators being tubular and containing insulating fluid,cobpeating contacts mounted on said insulators, means for varying atwill the pressure oi the insulating fluid in said tubular insulator, anda fluid pressure motor mechanism mounted on one end of said tubularinsulator and connected to one of said contacts, said motor mechanismcoin snug a casing in communication with the interior of insulator andan actuating, member connectedto one of said contacts and movable insaid casing in response to variations in pressure of the fluid in saidinsulator.

17. An electric switch comprising a support, two insulators mounted onsaid sup; port side by side, one of said insulators be ing tubular andcontaining insulating fluid, a contact clip on one insulator, acotipcrat ing cont-act blade pivoted on said tubular insulator, meansfor varying at will the pressure of the insulating tluid in said tubularinsulator, and a fluid pressure motor .Inechanism mounted on saidtubular insulator, said motor mechanism comprising a cylinder incommunication with the interior of said insulator and a piston connectedto said blade to swing it about its pivot.

18. An electric switch comprising a hori zontal support, insulatorsdepending from said support adjacent each other, one of said insulatorsbeing tubular and containing insulating fluid, cooperating relativelymovable contacts mounted on said insulators, a fluid pressure motormechanism mounted on the lower end of said'tubular insulator inCOIDD'itflilCiltlOIl with the interior thereof and connected to one ofsaid contacts to actuate it, and means for varying the pressure of theinsulating fluid in said insulator.

19. An electric switch comprising a hori-' zontal support, a tubularinsulator dcpending from said support and containing oil, a

movable contact mounted 321 the lower end of said insulator, a fluidpressure operating mechanism connected to said contact and mounted onthe lower end of said insulator in communication with the interiorthereof. and means for supplying elastic lluid under pressure to theupper end of said insulator to vary the pressure of the oil in saidinsulater.

20. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, two tubularinsulate s mounted adjacent each other and containing insulating fluid,a fluid pressure motor mounted on said insulators and comprising amovable member connected to said contact and arranged to form a movablepartition between the interiors of said insulators, and means for atwill increasing the pressure of the fluid in one insulator anddeu'casing the pressure of the liuid in the other insulator to operatesaid member and thereby actuate said contacts.

:21. An electric switch comprising two fixed contacts, two tubularinsulators containing insulating fluid and mounted side by sidebetweensaid fixed contacts, a plate secured to both said insulators, abridging contact movably mounted on said plate to coiiperate with saidfixed contacts, a fluid pressure motor mechanism mounted on said platecomprising a casing, with its opposite ends in communication witlrtheinteriorof said tubular insulators and a movable member mounted in saidcasing to form a partition between said insulators and connected to saidbridging contact to actuate it, and means for varying at will thepressure of the insulating fluid in said insulators to move said memberand thereby actuate said bridging contact,

An electric switch comprising port, two fixed con mounted on andinsulated from sa support, two tubular insulators contairng insulatingtluit and mounted side by side between said lined contacts, a fluidpressure motor n .chanism mounted on tlli adjacent ends of said tubularcontacts and in communication with the interior thereof, electricallyconnected contact blades pivotally mounted on said insusup 'lators tocooperate with said fixed contacts and con ected to said motor mechanismto pivwith the interior of one insulator and the other end incommunication with the interior of the other insulator, a piston in saidcylinder connected to said pivoted blades, and means for varying thepressure on the insulating fluid in said insulators to move said pistonand thereby actuate said blades. v

24. An electric switch comprising a horizontal support provided with anopening, a ca for closing said opening, two tubular insu atorscontaining insulating fluid and vertically suspended from said cap, aconducting plate smaller than said opening secured to the lower ends ofsaid insulators, two switch blades pivotally mounted on said platewithin the periphery thereof, a fluid pressure motor mechanism mountedon said plate in communicationwith the interior of said insulators andconnected to said blades v to operate them, and means connected to saidcap for varying the pressure on the upper surface of the insulatingfluid in said insulators and thereby actuating said switch blades.

25. In an electric switch, the combination of a horizontal supporthaving a central opening through it, a cap member secured to saidsupport to bridge said opening, fixed contacts mounted on said supporton opposite sides of said opening, a bridging contact mounted on saidcap member in position to cooperate with said fixed contacts, andconstructed to pass through said opening, and actuating mechanism forsaid bridging contact mounted on said cap member.

26. In an electric switch, the combination of a horizontal supporthaving a ,central opening through it, fixed contacts mounted opening, acap member detachably on the said support on opposite sides of saidopening and beneath said support, a cap member detachably secured to theupper side of said support to bridge said opening, a bridging contactmounted on said cap member beneath said support to cooperate with saidfixed contacts and constructed to pass through said opening, andoperating 3 a tank, and a bridging contact capable of passing throughsaid opening and mounted on said cap member to cooperate with said fixedcontacts.

28. In an electric switch, the combination.

with a tank, a cover provided with a central secured to said cover' tobridge said opening, fixed contacts mounted on said cover on oppo. sitesides of said opening, a bridging contact mounted on'said cap member 'tocooperate with said fixed contacts and constructed to pass through saidopening, and operating mechanism controlled from outside of said tankmounted on said cap member and connected to said bridging contact. Inwitness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of September,1909.

EDWARD M. HEWLETT. Witnesses:

BENJAMEAL B.' HULL, THOMAS .W. NOONAN.

